Browsing by Author "Msuya, J."

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Dietary patterns and household food insecurity in rural populations of Kilosa district, Tanzania
(2015-05-21) Ntwenya, J. E.; Kinabo, J.; Msuya, J.; Mamiro, P.; Majili, Z. S.
Introduction Few studies have investigated the relationship between dietary pattern and household food insecurity. The objective of the present analysis was to describe the food consumption patterns and to relate these with the prevalence of food insecurity in the context of a rural community. Methodology Three hundred and seven (307) randomly selected households in Kilosa district participated in the study. Data were collected during the rainy season (February–May) and post harvest season (September–October) in the year 2011. Food consumption pattern was determined using a 24-h dietary recall method. Food insecurity data were based on the 30 day recall experience to food insecurity in the household. Factor analysis method using Principal Components extraction function was used to derive the dietary patterns and correlation analysis was used to establish the existing relationship between household food insecurity and dietary patterns factor score. Results Four food consumption patterns namely (I) Meat and milk; (II) Pulses, legumes, nuts and cooking oils; (III) fish (and other sea foods), roots and tubers; (IV) Cereals, vegetables and fruits consumption patterns were identified during harvest season. Dietary patterns identified during the rainy season were as follows: (I) Fruits, cooking oils, fats, roots and tubers (II) Eggs, meat, milk and milk products (III) Fish, other sea foods, vegetables, roots and tubers and (IV) Pulses, legumes, nuts, cereals and vegetables. Household food insecurity was 80% and 69% during rainy and harvest–seasons, respectively (P = 0.01). Household food insecurity access scale score was negatively correlated with the factor scores on household dietary diversity.
Expecting too much from the rural development: a case of the Iringa nutrition project
(Health Digital Library, 2012) Msuya, J.; Kinabo, J.
The Iringa Nutrition Project (INP) supported jointly by the Government of Tanzania and UNICEF was started in 1984 as one way to improve mral livelihood. It was implemented in Jringa region because it was found that despite good food supply in the region, there were still high rates of malnutrition among children. The present study was carried out in Thirty nine villages of Ludewa and Iringa districts to evaluate the performance of the INP. Child growth and nutrition status data for the period between 1984 and 1992 were used. Indicators of project outcome included success in lowering the proportion of malnourished children and extent of coverage (number of children reached). In addition, regression analysis was used in identifying the community characteristics that were responsible for determining rate of mal nutrition changes in the study area. It was observed that 10 percent of the 39 villages in the project area were able to maintain a downward trend in malnutrition during the period 1984- 86 and 18 percent in 1987-92 period. None of the villages was able to sustain a continuous downward trend for the entire period of nine years (1984 to 1992). The regression ana ysis revealed that malnutrition declined significantly in those wards where the rates of malnutri tion were highest at the outset of the project. In addition Dominant cropping system and population size indirectly affected the capability to improve nutrition through their influence on coverage. In conclusion, the lringa Nutrition Project appears to have had only a modest impact on improving the nutritional status of children in lringa. This implies that, while the use o_f projects to combat malnutrition in poor countries may still be inevitable, we should not expect too much from these projects.
Factors influencing the use of information and communication technologies in accessing livestock information: A Case of Kinondoni and Morogoro Urban Districts, Tanzania
(2014-06) Angello, C.; Msuya, J.; Matovelo, D.
This paper presents findings of a study on the extent to which different Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are used by urban and peri-urban livestock keepers and factors that affect their use in accessing information on livestock. A mixed method approach was used to collect data for assessing the extent of using ICTs for livestock production and marketing in Kinondoni and Morogoro urban Districts. The findings revealed that most urban livestock keepers (94.1%) used different ICTs to access livestock information. Mobile phones were most frequently used (92.1%) compared to radio (21.7%), television (24.6%) and the internet (2.4%). Several . factors affected the use of ICTs in accessing livestock information, some of which are: limited awareness about relevant radio and television programmes on livestock keeping, high cost of communication using mobile phones and internet services, and computer illiteracy. The study concludes that urban livestock keepers use different ICTs, but there are many impeding factors limiting the potential of this technology for improving livestock production. The study recommends improving telecommunications services to facilitate better access to information using ICTs. Livestock keepers also need to be sensitized to use ICTs, which should also be integrated into extension services to improve access making it easier and cheaper to acquire information.
Food intake and dietary diversity of farming households in Morogoro Region, Tanzania
(AJFAND, 2016) Kinabo, J.; Mamiro, P.; Dawkins, N.; Bundala, N.; Mwanri, A.; Majili, Z.; Jumbe, T.; Kulwa, K.; Mamiro, D.; Amuri, N.; Ngowi, M.; Msuya, J.
The Tanzanian economy depends heavily on agriculture and hence human labor provides much of the power needed for farming activities. This study was carried out to determine the diversity and dietary adequacy of farming households in four selected districts of Morogoro region in Tanzania. Adult household members from 140 households participated in the study. A 24-hour dietary recall, dietary diversity score and frequency of food consumption tools were used to assess and quantify nutrient intake and adequacy of consumed diets in farming households. Tanzania food composition tables were used to compute estimates of the energy intake, macro and micronutrients consumed by farming households. Analysis was done using SPSS version 18 and Microsoft excel version 10. Cereal food group was consumed in relatively large quantities compared to other food groups in the surveyed households. The contribution of cereal group to energy intake was 75-82%, protein 8-16% and fat 9-14%. Stiff porridge made of maize flour was the mostly consumed cereal dish followed by rice. The mean intake of energy per day was inadequate; the intake of energy for men was 1402 kcal/day while for female was 1347 kcal/day meeting only 52% and 72%, respectively of the recommended energy intake. Generally, the consumption of protein from the animal sources was significantly low in all districts. Ninety-nine percent of the households rarely consumed eggs; 83% rarely consumed meat and poultry. Consumption of milk and milk products was inadequate as 92% of the households indicated that they rarely consumed these products. The intake of fat was also low by 53% compared to the recommended intake for adults. The intake of iron, zinc, and calcium was 40, 53 and 64%, respectively, which was not sufficient to meet daily requirements. Low intake of nutrients was generally attributed to inadequate food intake due to low feeding frequency, poorly diversified diets and sub- optimal practices in food preparation and cooking. The results from surveyed areas indicated that all districts are rich in terms of bio-diversity and food availability, nevertheless the consumption of these foods in the study communities was inadequate with regards to quantity and quality. This situation compromises nutritional status and pre-disposes farming households to diseases and infections hence affects work output, labor productivity and wealth generation. Educating farmers on the importance of consuming diversified and adequate diets from different food groups will improve their nutrition situation and stimulate more production hence increased agricultural productivity.
Household food insecurity and associated factors in rural communities: a case of Kilosa District, Tanzania
(African Journal of Agricultural Research, 2015) Ntwenya, J.; Kinabo, J.; Msuya, J.; Mamiro, P.; Mamiro, D.; Katalambula, L.
Food insecurity continues to be a major contributing factor to nutrition insecurity in developing countries. A nine item Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) was administered twice to 307 households among three agro-ecological zones in rural communities of Kilosa District-Tanzania to measure food security. Households were surveyed once during the rainy season (February–May) and once immediately post harvest (September–October) in the year 2011. The mean HFIAS score was the highest during the rainy season (8.15±6.06) and ranged from 0 to 26. During the harvest season, the mean HFIAS was 6.76±5.88 and ranged from 0 to 24. Using the categorical measure of food insecurity, the proportion of food secure households was higher during harvest season (31.3%) than was the case 19.9% during the rainy season. Similarly, 31.6% of the surveyed households were classified as being most food insecure during the rainy season as opposed to 26.1% during the harvest season (P=0.01). Food insecurity persisted among 39.2% of the surveyed households during the rainy season and period after harvest. The households in which at least one member offered casual labour such as the clearance of the farm fields, had 2.1 higher odds (95% CI: 1.05 to 4.29) of being food insecure. A substantial proportion of the surveyed households were food insecure across agricultural seasons and in various agro-ecological zones.
The role of Community Information Centres (CIC) in enhancing farmers’ access to information: A case study of CIC models in Morogoro region, Tanzania
(COTUL, 2014) Matovelo, D. S.; Msuya, J.; deSmet, E.
This paper presents the findings of a study which was conducted in Morogoro region to identify farmers’ current information needs. It also examines an approach that could enhance farmers’ access to and use of agricultural information with a view to promoting the practice of proactive information acquisition for empowerment and improved livelihoods. The study set out a participatory action research to pilot models for stimulating the proactive practices in accessing and utilising agricultural information. The model which was employed for this study evolved from the Village Information Centres (VIC) model and gave way to Community Information Centres (CIC) given the realisation that VICs have application and relevance to broader communities that may not necessarily be village-based. The study found that farmers’ information needs are not necessarily related to agricultural activities taking place at that particular time in a particular area. In some cases, exposure to information brought about information needs that were not expressed in the first place. This also implies that in some situations exposure to information is needed to stimulate a demand for information. The content, presentation style and language used were among the determinants influencing the demand for particular information. The study found adequate levels of literacy among smallholder farmers such that they could effectively access and make use of printed information. The findings also demonstrate the presence of reading skills that are otherwise underutilised. In conclusion, the study advocates for “pulled information” phenomenon as opposed to “pushed information” in building sustainable knowledge acquisition skills among smallholder farmers.
Women empowerment and the nutrition status of children aged between 6-59 months
(Annex Publishers, 2020) Chipili, G.; Msuya, J.; Pacific, R; Majili, S. Z.
Malnutrition remains a concern in the central province, despite being the most productive province in terms of Agriculture. Most studies in the province have not paid attention to the importance of women empowerment and the nutrition outcomes of the population. In light of this knowledge gap, this study focused on the Women’s empowerment and the nutrition status of children aged 6-59 months. The study assessed the extent to which women are empowered in agricultural activities. This study sought to determine the association of women empowerment and nutritional status of children aged 6-59 months in Kapiri-Mposhi district in the Central Province of Zambia. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using a structured questionnaire. A total of 99 households were randomly sampled and the nutritional status of one child from each household assessed using anthropometric measurements. A total of 99 children were included in the study. Up to 21% of the children were stunted; 2% were wasted; and 9% underweight. There was a significant relationship between access to credit or income opportunities and Z-scores for wasting (WHZ) (p<0.05). This study suggests that further investment into women’s access to income may help improve the nutrition status of children.